KTS 229

“Daddy, Daddy.”

How long had they been driving? Suddenly, Angela called Yu-jin in a small voice, shaking his arm. Yu-jin, who had been enduring the fear and nausea with his eyes closed, had no choice but to open them, and the child whispered with a serious expression.

“It’s strange, this isn’t the way home.”

“What?”

Startled for a moment, Yu-jin looked out the window and immediately felt dizzy at the rapidly passing scenery. He reflexively closed his eyes and waited for the dizziness to subside, but he couldn’t afford to take too long. Ignoring the lingering dizziness, he turned his gaze to the driver’s seat. The driver seemed to be looking only ahead, not noticing the movements in the back seat at all.

“Excuse me, this isn’t the usual way. Where are we going?”

“Ah…”

The driver paused for a moment before answering.

“The usual road is under construction today, so it’s blocked, and we’re taking a detour.”

“Is that so…”

It was a plausible explanation, so he couldn’t say anything more. This had happened before, so Yu-jin closed his mouth and smiled at the child as if to reassure her. But for some reason, he couldn’t shake the feeling of unease in his heart.

Why am I so anxious?

Yu-jin took a small deep breath and tried to calm himself, but it wasn’t easy. The new scenery passing by the window made him even more uneasy.

“Daddy.”

Angela, who was sitting next to him, whispered. He glanced sideways, and the child also pretended to look ahead and muttered quietly.

“I saw the road sign across the road earlier, and the way home was on the other side. We’re on that road.”

The daughter quickly gestured with her eyes to the road across the median. Angela couldn’t be wrong. Yu-jin trusted the child absolutely. That, combined with his anxiety, felt all too real.

Could I have been kidnapped?

The thought flashed through his mind, and he quickly opened and closed his eyes. He had clearly confirmed with the Butler. The car was the same as usual, and the situation seemed to leave no room for suspicion, but reality was saying something completely different. Yu-jin tried to open the car door, but of course, it wouldn’t budge. When he confirmed that it was locked and bit his lip, the driver, hearing the sound, spoke.

“Is something wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

He seemed to know that Yu-jin had a phobia of cars. Maybe he could use that. If this man was going to keep pretending to be an innocent driver, then he would have to pretend to be fooled.

“Ah, yes… I feel a little, like I’m going to throw up.”

His voice trembled even without trying to fake it. Hoping that he would believe it was because Yu-jin wasn’t feeling well, Yu-jin spoke with difficulty.

“Could you pull over for a moment? I think I’d feel better if I got out and got some air.”

“Uh… that’s a little difficult right now.”

The driver replied with a genuinely troubled expression.

“As you know, this is a highway. There’s motion sickness medicine and candy in the drawer over there; wouldn’t that help?”

If it weren’t for this situation, he would never have suspected this man’s acting skills. But Yu-jin had already made up his mind. He silently took out his cell phone and tried to subtly dial a number. He quickly looked around, preparing to send an emergency message to the police. Was there any way to ask for help?

Cars were speeding by on the adjacent road. Even if the door opened, jumping out here would be tantamount to suicide. And above all, he had to prioritize Angela’s safety.

Even if the police come, it will take time.

He had to do something in the meantime. What if the driver noticed and snatched his cell phone away…?

Huh?

Suddenly, a strange thought occurred to him. Shouldn’t he have taken the cell phone first thing?

Yu-jin watched carefully and deliberately made his cell phone ring. He pretended to receive a call and brought the phone to his ear, but the driver didn’t react.

Something’s wrong.

He slowly lowered his cell phone and stared intently at the back of the driver’s head. How could he be so calm? Even though the hostage might be contacting the police?

“We’re not going to the mansion, are we?”

He asked in a quiet voice, and the driver seemed to flinch. He continued in as calm a tone as possible.

“Where are we going? Tell me now; if you don’t answer honestly, I’ll call the police right now and say I’m being kidnapped.”

“Yes, yes?”

The driver glanced back for a moment, then hurriedly turned his gaze back to the front.

“What are you talking about? What did I do?”

Seeing his clearly flustered appearance, Yu-jin replied with a serious expression.

“Kidnapping, I mean. Me and Angela…”

“I’m just doing what I’m told.”

The driver blurted out in an agitated voice. Yu-jin, frowning, asked again.

“Told? By whom?”

“Of course, Mr. Campbell.”

The driver repeated to the uncomprehending Yu-jin.

“Mr. Campbell, Winston Campbell.”

* * *

Winston quietly looked at Mrs. Campbell. He silently gazed at his mother’s unwavering face before slowly opening his mouth.

“Are you telling me now that you’re going to kill Yu-jin?”

“There are many accidents in the world, Winston.”

Mrs. Campbell continued in a smooth tone.

“Who can guarantee that the boy won’t be one of them?”

The smile on her face was particularly radiant, intoxicated with a sense of victory. Winston said quietly.

“You know that Yu-jin is with Angela, don’t you?”

“Did I?”

Mrs. Campbell reacted as if she didn’t care. Winston still spoke with a mask-like expressionless face.

“Angela is my daughter, Mother.”

His voice, quieter than usual, was faintly tinged with emotion.

“Yu-jin and my daughter, not Father’s child. Are you telling me now that you’re going to kill my daughter?”

To her son, who was revealing cold anger, Mrs. Campbell replied more calmly than ever.

“It’s his offspring, not your child.”

Winston was silent again. A tense atmosphere filled the drawing room, and the faintly lingering pheromone scent quickly became strong.

What can you do anyway?

Mrs. Campbell leisurely lifted her teacup to her mouth and said.

“You’ll forget it soon. You’ll be grateful to me when you come to your senses, so don’t resent me too much.”

She took a sip of the warm tea and then put the teacup down again. Separated by a suffocating silence, the two looked at each other.

Ha, suddenly Winston twisted the corners of his mouth and let out a sigh-like laugh. Mrs. Campbell frowned at the unexpected reaction, and he leaned back leisurely against the sofa back and opened his mouth.

“How is it that you never deviate from my expectations, Mother?”

“…What?”

Mrs. Campbell frowned even more deeply and stared at her son’s face.

* * *

“Winston?”

Startled, Yu-jin asked, raising his voice without realizing it. The driver glanced at the back seat and nodded quickly.

“Yes, today I received orders not to return to the mansion but to take you to the villa. That’s where we’re going now.”

What is this…?

Yu-jin, bewildered and only blinking, belatedly added.

“Then, what about the person who used to work? Was he sick or something…?”

“Ah, that’s…”

The driver replied, looking embarrassed.

“I don’t know the details, but I heard he was arrested for something. So I’m temporarily taking over this job…”

Yu-jin blinked with a blank face, as if he had been hit. Angela, who had been listening to the adults’ conversation next to him, shook Yu-jin’s arm impatiently.

“Daddy, Daddy… what’s going on? I don’t understand.”

“Me neither, Angie.”

Yu-jin muttered in confusion. What on earth is happening right now?

“Do you have any idea why Winston gave such an order?”

Belatedly asking, the driver said yes and continued.

“I haven’t heard… just that someone important is visiting… Anyway, he said not to return to Delights.”

Who could it be…?

Evelyn’s face flashed through his mind for a moment. Could it be that? He broke up with me and is going to marry Evelyn…

It was a reasonable guess, but soon he shook his head. He wanted to believe it wasn’t true. Even if it was real, he had to see it with his own eyes and confirm it. That way, he could shake off any unnecessary lingering feelings or pity.

“Take me to Delights.”

“Yes? But…”

The driver turned to look at him in confusion, but Yu-jin’s will was firm.

“Right now, I said take me to Delights. If you don’t, I’ll report that I’m being kidnapped to the police.””Wait, just a moment! That’s not allowed! What are you saying…! Please don’t do that!”

The driver was horrified and tried to dissuade him. But he, too, knew very well that Yu-jin was serious. The master’s orders were absolute and could not be disobeyed, but the crisis before his eyes was no less immense. In the end, as soon as he got off the highway, he turned the car around and headed back the way they came. At full speed.